Portable baptistry



Jan. 20, 1959 M. F. WIEDEMANN, JR 2,369,140

PORTABLE BAPTISTRY 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed June 4, 1956 ,INVENTOR. BYM ff sAmrneyg,

Jan. 20, 1959 M. F. WIEDEMANN, JR

PORTABLE BAPTISTRY 2 Sfieets-Sheet 2 Filed June 4, 1956 5 WJNVENTOR. F 5' 7 BY //I1$A'L'C3 rm: 8.

United States Patent PORTABLE BAPTISTRY Martin F. Wiedemann, Jr.,Muscatine, Iowa Application June 4, 1956, Serial No. 589,259 4 Claims. (Cl. 4-1

My invention relates to an article of manufacture comprising a portable baptistry for use in baptizing by immersion.

The objects of my invention are to provide a portable water container of sufficient size to use for baptizing persons by immersion; to provide such a container of light weight which can be readily moved manually from place to place for use or storage; to provide such an appliance that will be of good appearance suitable for use in churches; to provide an appliance which can be readily manufactured and assembled and which will be durable and not readily marred or disfigured.

I accomplish these objects by the means shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a reduced top or plan'view in quarter-section;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the assembled appliance;

Figure 3 is an enlarged top view of a corner post with the top rail removed;

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional elevation on the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail of an alternate form of clamp to hold the tank to the side plates.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

My baptistry includes a rectangular housing which is preferably approximately seven feet in length, four feet in width and three and one-half feet high. It has corner posts mounted in a bottom rail 4 and which carry a top rail 1.

Corrugated or fiuted side and end plates 2 are mounted on the posts between the top and bottom rails. The side and end plates are provided with flat extensions 2.1 which extend into and are secured by a press fit in narrow grooves 5.1 which extend vertically of the corner posts 5. On one side of the housing a decorative panel is mounted which may carry an emblem of a cross or any other desired figure.

The foot rails are provided with supports 4.1 in which the lower ends of the side plates 2 are seated. Also, channels 1.5 in the upper rails are provided to receive the upper edges of the side plates.

The top rails are formed with arms 1.3 with flanges 1.2 which rest upon the top of the posts 5. The top and bottom rails and the posts are preferably of aluminum and may be produced by extrusion. Inwardly extending plates 1.1 are rigidly united to the top rails by Welding, riveting or other suitable means and channels 1.5 are preferably formed in these extending plates which also rest upon the top of the posts 5. In the preferred form of my baptistry longitudinal plates 1.1, forming part of the top rail, are mounted upon the top of the side and end plates or walls and upon the top of the corner posts. These longitudinal plates 1.1 have a fiat surface extending inwardly to which the inner lower edge of the rounded top of the rail 1 is secured by screws 11 or other suitable means.

A pair of spaced flange-like portions extend downwardly from the middle of the plates 1.1 and the lower end of the inner flange 6 has a hook-shaped channel 6.1 at the lower edge thereof to carry hook members 8 which are fastened to sides and ends of the tank 3 and secure it in place.

Opposite the flange 6 an outer portion of the plate 1.1 extends downwardly and from its lower end a horizontal member extends having a hook-like member 1.4 which is engaged by the lower part of the outer sides of the rounded part of the rail 1. The lower outer edge of the top rail is recurved upwardly and has a flat extension 1.2 which rests upon the top of adjoining corner posts and a groove 1.3 is formed to receive the hook 1.4 of the plate 1.1.

The side and end walls 2 extend upwardly into the space 1.5 between the downwardly extending flanged parts of the plates 1.1 and the side wall 2 and the top rail 1 both act to support the hook members 8 which carry the sides and ends of the tank 3.

Depending from the plates 1.1 are bars 6 the lower ends of which carry channels 6.1. The top rails 1 and the base rails 4 are united at the corners by welding and may be secured to the posts 5 by any additional means desired such as set screws or bolts in addition to a close fit of the adjoining parts.

Inside of the housing and supported by the side plates is a rectangular tank of waterproof fabric 3 the upper end of which is mounted upon clamping members 8 adapted to engage and be carried by the channels 6.1 and having an outer arm 9 which may be rigidly united to the clamping member 8 by bolts or rivets 7 and arranged to hold the upper end of the tank close to the top rail all around the housing. The bottom of the tank rests upon the floor.

This clamping member 8 may be in the form shown in Figure 4 where the upper end of the tank passes over the outer arm 9 and down between the two members of the clamping means and secured by bolts, or the clamps may open downwardly as in Figure 5 and the upper edge of the tank be inserted therein and secured by bolts or other suitable means.

I prefer to use aluminum for the top and bottom rails, posts and side plates as it is very light in weight, strong, and may be readily formed by extrusion into the shapes required, but other light weight metals may be used as desired.

The tank should be made of strong waterproof fabric such as canvas or other suitable material and coated with any good waterproofing or it may be formed of waterproof plastic.

Various modifications may be made in the size, material and conformation of the parts Without departing from the spirit of my invention as expressed in the claims and I do not limit my claims to the precise forms shown in the drawings.

I claim:

1. A rectangular baptistry comprising a housing having four corner posts and united thereto an ornamental top rail and a foot rail, corrugated sheet-metal side and end plates united to the top and foot rails by a press fit into longitudinal channels therein, a hooked flange united to and depending from the top rail, a rectangular opentop waterproof fabric tank, and means to secure the upper edge of the sides and ends of the tank to the hooked flange and with the bottom of the tank extending down to the floor level.

2. A baptistry as described in claim 1, said top rail being hollow and including a rounded upper part with its Patented Jan. 20, 1959' inner lower edge united to the inner edge of a rectangular horizontal plate carried by the side and end walls whereby the top rail and side walls act in unison to sustain the walls of the tank in vertical position.

3. In a baptistry as, described in claim 1-, the top rail having a rounded upper member and a flattened lower or bottom member united thereto, a longitudinal channel carried by the lower member and extending downwardly,

therefrom with the upper ends of the side and end wall plates secured by. press fit in said channel.

4. In a baptistry as described in claim 1, said top rail comprising a hollow cylinder with an upper member and a flattened bottom member united thereto, said means constituting the flat longitudinal. lower member rigidly References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,076,547 Bullock Oct. 21, 1913 1,733,017 Phillips Dec. 31, 1929 1,753,427 Phillips Apr. 8, 1930 1,855,714 Hutchinson et a1 Apr. 26, 1932 2,755,484

Hotz July 24, 1956 

